Are You Someone Who Refuses To Bring Harm To Those Who Have Hurt You?

Matthew 1:18,19 Study Guide

Soul Food

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” – Matthew 1:18,19 NIV 

Soul Search

When you think of people who have injured or hurt you, what emotions arise with those thoughts?

Do you struggle with thoughts of paying people back for the hurts they have caused you? Are you tempted to take some kind of revenge?

Are you ‘quiet’ when you have been hurt – like Joseph in the Bible was – or do you cause damage for that other person by speaking negatively and somewhat loudly about them?

Are you someone who can more easily let people ‘off the hook’ through forgiveness and ‘letting go?’ Why would you say this is possible?

Talk to God and ask Him to heal the injuries and hurts others have caused you.

Soul Moves

Talk to God and ask Him to heal the injuries and hurts others have caused you.

Examine yourself and look honestly at the different ways that you “hit” others back for the ways they have treated you.

If you see that you’re actively or passively trying to hurt people back for the hurts they have caused you, ask God to give you the strength and ability to stop those behaviors. Ask God to help you extend forgiveness to those who have hurt you.

Determine to ‘go quiet’ like Joseph did after he suffered the hurt of Mary’s pregnancy. Ask God – by His Holy Spirit – to give you the self control you need to keep your mouth shut so as not to expose that person’s hurtful behavior.